EUROPE - Mobile technology event organiser GSMA has announced Barcelona, Milan, Munich and Paris have been shortlisted from the six cities competing to host the GSMA Mobile World Congress from 2013 through 2017.
GSMA began its search for the Mobile World Capital by first evaluating more than 30 cities, narrowing the list to six candidates in August 2010. Amsterdam, Barcelona, Cologne, Milan, Munich and Paris were named as previous candidate cities.
"Paris is proud to be considered as a host for the new Mobile World Capital by the GSMA," commented Mayor of Paris, M. Bertrand Delanoe. "With the help of our lively ICT and mobile community, we are committed to expanding the magic of our city to the fantastic future of the mobile world."
Launched in November 2010, the concept of the Mobile World Capital includes not only the annual Mobile World Congress event, but also the Mobile World Centre, which will include technology exhibits, museum features, a retail area, a mobile café and office space; the Mobile World Festival, a range of festivities that will be targeted to the general public; and the congress, which is expected to draw more than 50,000 visitors over four days.
"We congratulate Barcelona, Milan, Munich and Paris as they move forward in the last phase of the evaluation process," said GSMA CEO, John Hoffman. "The four finalists announced today each have a clear, multi-faceted vision for how they will make their city the Mobile World Capital, and we look forward to seeing these visions unfold as we move through the process."
The next Mobile World Congress will take place in Barcelona from 14 to 17 February 2011. The four-day exhibition and conference has been held in Barcelona since 2006, and will remain there through 2012, when its current contract expires.
The host city is expected to be announced in mid-2011.
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